What's a servo? Newbie Question

[Gears]

I know it is what steers the car, but is it a small motor? How does it
work?
Thanks for the info.
Gears

[Kevin]

I am a relatively newbie too, and I hope you don't get flamed for your
question, but it is a very basic one so I am sure some will take advantage.
In the most basic sense a servo is an electric motor with a controller that
has limits built in as to how far it will run in both directions. It also
has several internal gears that reduce the speed of the output shaft but
give the little motor a lot more power (gearing the motor down). There are
many different models that offer different response times and turning
torque, as well as plastic or metal gears.
There is an output shaft on the servo that is splined and can be adapted to
many types of arms to meet your specific need. In my Stampede it is attached
to a servo saver which directly connects to the tie rods to turn the front
wheels. In nitro trucks the same servo can be used to control throttle and
brakes and shifting the tranny as well. Hope this helps.
"Gears" <mshepp8653nospam@nospamrogers.com> wrote in message
news:nu2W9.89233$pDv.48604@news04.bloor.is.net.cab le.rogers.com...
> I know it is what steers the car, but is it a small motor? How does it
> work?
> Thanks for the info.
> Gears
>
>

[mykrowyre]

> I am a relatively newbie too, and I hope you don't get flamed for your
....

Good Answer, Kevin.

-tom

[Jonny Hodgson]

Kevin wrote:

>> I know it is what steers the car, but is it a small motor? How does
>> it work?

> advantage. In the most basic sense a servo is an electric motor with
> a controller that has limits built in as to how far it will run in
> both directions. It also has several internal gears that reduce the
> speed of the output shaft but give the little motor a lot more power

Just to add a bit more to that:

- the servo gets a control signal from the receiver;

- it has a potentiometer built in which also produces a signal,
according to the servo's current position;

- the motor gets power according to the difference between these two
signals.

When they're the same, the servo stays still; if they're different, it
tries to make them the same.

Jonny

[JerryO]

"Kevin" <ORVRider@hotmail.com> wrote
> In the most basic sense a servo is an electric motor with a controller that
> has limits built in as to how far it will run in both directions.

Well, maybe in the most basic sense, it is a 'control system' to make
a relationship between two (or more) items.

Example: the cruise control on an auto.

Good explaination of how it is done in models in the other answers.


JerryO